Sports Domes in the Hudson Valley

A look at a popular veteran and a potential rookie of the year.

by nicolette sblano

Published: 01/17/2019

Photo courtesy of Hudson Valley Sportsdome

Rendering courtesy of Sports Kingdome

The Hudson Valley winters bring brutally cold weather, with equally brutal amounts of snow. But snow can’t keep athletes of spring and summer sports from playing their A-game. Indoor facilities, like sports domes and training centers, have become an integral part of the game.

With 92,000 sq ft of space, Hudson Valley Sportsdome has been the premier destination for local athletes for 15 years. Erick Watson, owner and director of ERock Soccer, has been using the Milton-based facility for soccer clinics since 2011. “It gives us a place to set up our clinics year-round, without the worry of what the weather is going to bring.”

According to Marianne Buccellato, president and co-owner of Hudson Valley Sportsdome, the dome can host about 130 games in a single weekend. “It gives athletes a competitive advantage over their competition, especially if the other teams don’t have a place to practice and compete year-round.”

Photo courtesy of Hudson Valley Sportsdome

“A lot of teams that use our facility come from our area, but there are also a lot of teams that come from neighboring states, and even Canada,” explains Buccellato. “That type of traffic boosts the local economy.”

The big news for 2019 is the anticipated fall opening of Sports KingDome in East Fishkill. Developer Dan Fraioli said it will be the world’s largest sports dome, at 347,000 sq ft. Mike Van Riper of Sports KingDome shared, “We have had teams as far north as Maine, as far south as Virginia, and as far west as Ohio that want to be a part of this facility when it arrives.”

Fraioli, CEO of Air Structures American Technologies, Inc., has been building air-supported structures since 1964, but never one this size. There is a significant demand for these types of facilities especially in the Northeast,” says Fraioli, who adds that youth sports programs in general are on the rise. “East Fishkill ended up being the perfect location based on the demographics and the support of the town and local community.”